Moscow, 5 September 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Russian General Alexander Korzhakov, replaced by President Boris Yeltsin as security chief in June, has called on voters in the Far East to support local governor Yevgeny Nazdratenko in a referendum later this month.

But a spokesperson for Nazdratenko told RFE/RL that the governor has not met Korzhakov and has no plans to discuss the situation in the Far East with him.

Nazdratenko, who serves as governor in the Primoryie region, faces a confidence vote September 22.

Today's edition of the "Commersant Daily" quotes Korzhakov as telling a TV station in the region yesterday that Nazdratenko is "a good guy," and calling on voters to support him in his conflict with local trade unions. The unions blame Nazdratenko for unpaid back wages. The wage dispute precipitated the confidence referendum, called by the local duma.

Anatoly Chubais, Yeltsin's chief of staff, says that Yeltsin holds Nazdratenko responsible for the problem with back wages.

Korzhakov, a hardliner, was replaced by Yeltsin in a Kremlin dispute between the general and Chubais shortly before a second round of presidential elections in July.